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Rockies send third baseman Nelson to Yanks

4/19/13: Chris Nelson lines his first triple of the year into center field, putting himself into scoring position in the fifth

By Thomas Harding
/
MLB.com |

LOS ANGELES -- The Rockies have sent their former starting third baseman Chris Nelson to the Yankees for cash consideration and a player to be named, the Rockies announced Wednesday.

Nelson, 27, hit .301 for the Rockies last season, and he was hitting .242 this season before the Rockies designated him for assignment Sunday to bring up prospect Nolan Arenado to start at third. To make room for Nelson, the Yankees placed catcher Francisco Cervelli (broken right hand) on the 60-day disabled list.

In an interesting twist, Nelson will share time with Jayson Nix at third base with the Yankees. Nix was the Rockies' supplemental first-round pick in the 2001 MLB First-Year Player Draft, and Nelson was the Rockies' first-round pick in 2004.

In another move Wednesday, the Rockies acquired outfielder Jose Monzon from the Astros to complete the deal that sent right-handed starting pitcher Alex White to Houston and right-handed relief pitcher Wilton Lopez to Colorado. Monzon, 21, will report to extended spring training.